Aerial bomb



D. H. ROBY AERIAL BOMB Filed Aug. 4, 1940' 2 Sheets-Sheet l i il L 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

h Il 2f I IIIHII l il INVENTOR. Av/ /7 Hoy D. H. ROBY AERIAL BOMB Filed Aug. 4, 1940 I. ../I l .mul

Patented Dec. 2t, 1941 TED STATES PATENT l' 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an aerial bomb and from the principal bomb and which will discharge the smaller bombs in individual series at different speeds so that each series will be thrown a different distance from the main bomb Without unbalancing the latter.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.

These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed descriptionl oi' the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all Views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side,view of one form of the improved self-distributing, multiple bomb.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, looking downward, taken on the line 3 3, Fig 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section through one of the bomb tubes.

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged detail section of the bomb releasing member.

Fig. 6 is a side view of an alternate form of the bomb.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the alternate form, taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section therethrough, taken on the line 6 8, Fig. '7.

The improved bomb' is designed to whirl about a vertical axis as it descends. When the speed of rotation .reaches a certain pre-determined point, an entire annular series of small bombs will be thrown outwardly and, as the speed increases to a second pre-determined point, a second series of bombs will be thrown still further outwardly and this procedure will continue until all bombs have been thrown in a series of concentric circles about the axis of the main bomb. It is so designed that each entire circular series is discharged simultaneously so that the stability of the main bomb will not be impaired.

The above is accomplished by mounting a rotatable sleeve I0 around a vertical, tubular shaft Ii. The sleeve is suspended between anti-friction thrust bearings I2 on the shaft II so that it may rotate freely thereabout. The shaft is held from rotation by means of radial guiding iins I3 at its upper extremity, the lower extremity of the tubular shaft II carries a main bomb I4 having a percussion head I5. The main bomb is of sumcient power to destroy the entire device when exploded. y

A secondary bomb I6 is mounted in the shaft I l above the main bomb and is positioned to be exploded by means of a pressure rod I1 from the main bomb I4. The secondary bomb is more particularly designed to destroy the mechanism should the main bomb fail to explode. Under usual conditions both bombs are exploded simultaneously.

A bomb carrying cylinder I 6 is supported concentrically about the sleeve I0 upon spiral vanes I9. As the bomb is falling, the rush of air through the cylinder I 8 acts against the vanes I8 to whirl the entire cylinder about the shaft I I. A plurality of bomb tubes 20 project radially from the outer face of the cylinder I6. These tubes are arranged in layers one above the other so that all of the tubes of each layer will lie in the same horizontal plane. A small bomb 2| provided with tail ilns 22 ls carried in each tube 20.'

The small bombs are held in place in the tubes by means o1' restraining pins 23 which are locked in sockets at the muzzles of the tube in any suitable way such as by means of set screws 2t. The

t restraining pins may be of any suitable fragile material which will break when subjected to sufflcient side pressure. It is suggested that they be made of glass and that each pin be notched as shown at 24 to provide a breaking point.

All of the pins in each layer of bomb tubes are similarly notched so that all pins in that layer will break simultaneously. The pins in each remaining layer are differently notched so as to break at a different strain or different speed. This causes all the small bombs 2| in one layer to be simultaneously discharged at one speedV of rotation and in each succeeding layer at successively increasing speeds. This arrangement causes each annular layer of bombs to be dropped at a different distance from the main bomb so that all of the bombs will be uniformly scattered over a large area covering several square miles.

It is believed that if the bomb is released at an altitude of say 25,000 feet, sufficient speed will be developed to throw the furthest small bombs in a circle four miles in diameter and to throw the remaining bombs at decreasingly smaller circles Within this area.

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive an alternate method of construction for the bomb is illustrated. In this form the same tubular shaft Il' with its ns I3 and main bomb M is employed. The cylinder I8, however, is omitted and several layers of radial bomb tubes 25 are extended outwardly from a rotatable sleeve 26 about the Shaft il The bomb tubes are enclosed in an outer jacket 21 through which their muzzles open.

The jacket 21 is provided with a series of spi raling vanes 28 to impart a whirling motion thereto from impact with the air as the bomb falls. The lower extremity of the Jacket is pref erably tapered as indicated at 29 to reduce air resistance.

The action and operation of this form is exactly similar to the previously described form. The vanes 8 whirl the jacket. The jacket whirls the tubes 25 andthe latter discharge small bombs dueto the centrifugal action thereof similarly to the previously described form.

A single airplane carrying this improved selfdistributing bomb can simultaneously drop eighty or more bombs over a large area in a single operation.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A multiple self-distributing aerial bomb comprising: 'a vertical shaft member; ns on the upper extremity of said shaft member to resist rotation thereof; a rotatable sleeve about said shaft member; a plurality of radially projecting bomb tubes carried by said sleeve; bombs in said tubes; and means for whirling said sleeve about said shaft as the latter falls through the air.

2. A multiple self-distributing aerial bomb comprising: a vertical shaft member; tins on the upper extremity of said shaft member to resist rotation thereof; a rotatable sleeve about said shaft member; a cylinder concentricallg-y supported in spaced relation about said sleeve;

spiral propeller vanes in said cylinder to cause the latter to' rotate as the air moves therethrough; a series of bomb tubes supported by said cylinder; and restraining means for holding the bombs in their tubes until the cylinder reaches a pre-determined speed of rotation.

3. A multiple self-distributing aerial' bomb comprising: a bomb support; means for whirling said bomb support as it falls through the air; a series of annular layers of bomb tubes projecting from said bomb support; the tubes in each layer projecting radially; bombs carried in said tubes; restraining means for holding the bombs in said tubes, the restraining means in each layer being arranged to release at a different speed oi' rotation from the restraining means in the remaining layers.

4. A multiple self-distributing aerial bomb comprising: a bomb support; means for whirling said bomb support as it falls through the air; a series of annular layers of bomb tubes projecting from said bomb support,l the tubes in each layer projecting radially; bombs carried in said tubes; and a stop pin projecting into each bomb tube to restrain the bomb therein, said pins being frangible so that they will break at pre-determined strains.

, DAVID H. ROBY. 

